To answer the original question. . .Symphonia. I think it's one of those all-around games that excels at nothing in particular, but still gives off a nice, complete, satisfying feel. I can't say I'm too fond of Phantasia, but I did enjoy Destiny.

Battle-wise, Graces is unmatched.

I like what the Tales team tried with Yuri and Vesperia. I admit I was actually surprised they went so far, given how traditionally. . ."good" the main characters are in the series. The Lawful vs Chaotic theme was nice.

I like Abyss until the halfway mark, then started to hate it and where the characters and story went - opposite of most people.

Yuri's arc would've been great ... IF they didn't up and forget about "society has laws about murder and breaking these laws have consequences," thus rendering Yuri getting a LITERAL get out of jail free card when he saved the world from the Adephagos. Also, the game framed it in such a way that if Yuri DIDN'T kill those people, he was doing the WRONG THING. If they wanted a more gray morality, they would've given Ragul and Cumore families and children, which would have been more thought provoking - sure evil people are now dead, but children are now deprived of their father, wives of their husbands, etc. Instead it's pretty cut-and-dried, with Yuri escaping any consequences for his actions at all.

Yep, they made them too easy to hate. Flynn does confront Yuri though, but it feels empty after having watched The First Strike...

In any case, the murders would have been shoved on the carpet as well if they did go the moral ambiguity route. Yuri's best buddies with a princess and other high ranking figures. I bet most of the world likes him too, because of the whole not having to die thing. Plus, who cares about the deaths of people who were on the wrong/losing side? If Yuri did go to trial, he'd walk out a free man anyway.

I know I'm a bit offtopic here, but considering I've never played an entry in the series, I was wondering what is the recurring theme or idea in the games. Are the games set in the same universe, do they focus on a particular theme, or are they just nice animu RPGs with action-based combat?

Most of the Tales Of traditions have to do with character archetypes and in-game traditions, but that doesn't really answer your question, so...

Tales Of games often have subplots about racism or xenophobia, and at least one character either suffering from it or overcoming it. Half-elves in Phantasia and Symphonia, Celestians in Eternia, Lycanth in Tempest, probably others I haven't played.

Tales Of games often have subplots about racism or xenophobia, and at least one character either suffering from it or overcoming it. Half-elves in Phantasia and Symphonia, Celestians in Eternia, Lycanth in Tempest, probably others I haven't played.

Some games also try to send an environmental message. Elements being out of balance (due to things humans did) is pretty common.

Oh, but let one thing be clear: 'subtility' is not in the Tales dictionary. More often than not writers prefer the sledgehammer approach. But we always forgive them, because Tales games are about the characters. The Tales games are, despite their love for archetypes, full of likable characters that get plenty of development.